• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Why WNBA’s Next CBA Negotiations Have Huge Ramifications

  • A CBA change in 2026 paired with an increase in TV revenue could drastically alter contracts—and roster construction.
  • WNBA players receive only about 10% of the league’s revenue.
Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

During a livestream earlier this week, Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese revealed her WNBA salary does not cover her bills.

Reese, who was the No. 7 pick in the 2024 draft, made around $73,000 this season, and Caitlin Clark, the top pick of the draft, only made about $3,000 more. (It should be noted both players have substantial endorsement deals.)

The salaries of WNBA players—which go only as high as about $250,000—have been a topic of discussion for years, but have been under a spotlight this season given the unprecedented attention the league has received since the arrival of the 2024 rookie class. The current collective bargaining agreement awards just 9.3% of the league’s revenue to players, a deal signed in 2020, well before the WNBA consistently drew more than a million viewers for prime-time games. That percentage speaks to the economic realities of the league; without the coming influx of TV money, it is still losing money and subsidized by the NBA.

It comes as no surprise that the league’s players are expected to opt out of the current CBA by the Nov. 1 deadline. But even with the opt out, the current CBA rules will hold until the 2026 season—which is why Breanna Stewart has openly mentioned structuring her contracts to ensure a new deal can be made the year the CBA changes are applied.

During CBA negotiations, the players will undoubtedly look to increase their share of the league’s revenue. Their NBA counterparts receive around 50% of the league’s basketball-related income—but an increase to just 20% or 30% for the WNBA could mean exponential increases to the salary cap.

That’s before mentioning the league’s increase in revenue starting in 2026, driven by the $2.2 billion media-rights deal it secured alongside the NBA in July with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon. That deal is worth $200 million annually and could rise as high as $272 million per year as more partners are secured, which would be four times as much as the league currently receives.

A revenue bump coupled with a revenue-share increase for the players could theoretically raise the salary cap far enough for max deals to land around the million-dollar-per-year mark, while minimum salaries could shift from about $64,000 to well in the six-figure range.

Seismic Shifts

However, this puts the league at risk of a severe roster construction issue.

Assuming the current salary cap doubles or even triples by 2026, every team would essentially have the flexibility to sign any available player. This could be advantageous for franchises in big markets with massive practice facilities and deep-pocketed owners like the New York Liberty or even the incoming Golden State Valkyries.

It could turn into an extreme version of what happened in the NBA in 2016, when its new media-rights deal kicked in and the salary cap increased by 35%, which is how the Warriors, coming off a 73-win season, were able to sign Kevin Durant.

The NBA added cap-smoothing to its CBA in 2020, which ensured the salary cap would only increase a maximum of 10% every year regardless of revenue increases. It may seem obvious for the WNBA to include some form of cap-smoothing—but that rule is a lot easier to swallow in the NBA where the average salary is nearly $12 million

In the WNBA, the league and its players will need to thread the needle to find a solution that pays players adequately but doesn’t drastically tilt the balance of power.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Silver: My Comments About Basketball Highlights Were ‘Misconstrued’

The NBA commissioner spoke at the Front Office Sports Tuned in summit.
Apr 24, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley (5) dribbles on New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) in the second half during game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena.

Adam Silver: NBA’s Problems With Gambling ‘Have Been Predictable’

Silver originally advocated for legalized sports betting in a 2014 op-ed.

Fever Ratings Fall Without Clark, but Rest of WNBA Game 1s Surge

The Indiana Fever game drew 47% fewer viewers this year.

Featured Today

Premier Lacrosse League

‘The Circus Is Coming to Town’: Why Upstart Leagues Start on Tour

In their ambitious plans, a traveling schedule is only temporary.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: A detailed view of the MLB Debut patch on the jersey of Patrick Monteverde #44 of the Miami Marlins prior to game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
September 13, 2025

The Tiny Jersey Patch at the Center of the MLB Rookie Card..

Autographed cards containing a piece of baseball history have upended the market.
September 11, 2025

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Could Set More NFL Ratings Records

Fox will nationally televise Sunday afternoon’s matchup.
September 10, 2025

ESPN’s ‘MNF’ Ratings Up 8% As NFL Surges to Strong Start

ESPN posts its second-best Week 1 “Monday Night Football” audience.

Adam Silver Walks Back Claim He’d Never Heard of Aspiration

Adam Silver spoke at the Front Office Sports Tuned In summit.
Sep 14, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) gestures to a teammate after scoring against the Seattle Storm in the first quarter during game one of round one for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Michelob Ultra Arena.
September 15, 2025

Aces Surge From Collapse to Contention With Dynasty at Stake

The turnaround started after a 53-point loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
Sep 14, 2025; Bridgeview, Illinois, USA; Portland Thorns FC midfielder Olivia Moultrie (13) kicks the ball past Chicago Stars FC defender Sam Staab (3) during the second half of a match at SeatGeek Stadium.
September 16, 2025

NWSL Beefs Up Media Deal With More CBS, ESPN, Adds Victory+

The NWSL has been locked into its existing deal since last year.
Sponsored

How World Series Champ Dexter Fowler Became a Premier League Team Owner

Dexter Fowler discusses navigating retirement and embracing new roles as an owner & investor.
September 15, 2025

Tush Push Debate Heats Up in Eagles Win, Ex-NFL Rules Chief Sounds..

The Eagles are continuing to run the quarterback-sneak play.
September 14, 2025

Most NFL Home Teams Opt to Honor Charlie Kirk Before Games

Several NFL teams playing at home on Sunday recognized the late activist. Some did not.
September 14, 2025

Crawford-Alvarez Bout Draws Biggest Crowd in Vegas Boxing History

Record attendance, a big gate, and growing ambitions mark the high-profile bout.
September 14, 2025

Low-Payroll Brewers Buck the Math, Clinch First MLB Playoff Berth

Milwaukee continues to defy its market size and economic constraints.